Portable dam.



e. w. HANNA.

PORTABLE DAM.

APPLICA ION FILED AUG-8, I916.

1,212,633. Patented Jan. 16,1917.

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enonen w. HANNA, OFYVALE, OREGON.

PORTABLE DAM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 8, 1916. Serial No. 113,761.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE IV. HANNA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vale, in the county of Malheur and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Dams, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to portable canvas dams for irrigation ditches.

Heretofore in damming an irrigation ditch it has been customary to manufacture the dam from one or more widths of canvas, the dam being of the same width at the bottom as at the top. In placing such a dam in the ditch it is necessary, in order to anchor the dam, to stand upon its lower portion and tramp the said portion into the muddy bottom of the ditch, after which ten .or more shovels full of dirt are thrown onto the bottom portion. The upper portion or edge of such a dam is, of course, connected to a pole which is placed transversely of the upper side of the ditch. Not only is considerable canvas required to make such a dam but the anchoring of the dam in the ditch is attended by much inconvenience and hard labor. Furthermore, when it is desired to remove the dam it is necessary to lift not only the dam but also practically the entire weight of the water. It is further necessary to rinse or clean the mud from the lower portion of the dam after its removal.

The present invention therefore aims to provide a canvas dam which may be placed upon the market at a low cost and which will require for its manufacture but a minimum amount of canvas; which may be readily and conveniently anchored within a ditch without any considerable exertion, and

which may be readily and conveniently removed whenever desired without the one performing this operation being required to lift more than the weight of the dam itself.

In the accompanying drawingsz Figure 1 is a perspective view of the dam embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation thereof in position within an irrigation ditch and properly anchored. Fig. 3 is a vertical front to rear sectional view through the dam anchored'within the ditch. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the dam in anchored position.

The dam embodying the present invention includes an upper or body portion which is indicated by the numeral 1 and which is formed from heavy canvas either in a single 2 of the drawings, so that when the dam is arranged within a properly dug irrigation ditch it will conform more or less closely to the shape of the ditch, the lateral edges of the body portion, indicated at 2, lying close against the inclined side walls of the ditch, as shown in Fig. 2.v At its upper end the member 1 is provided with a relatively large sleeve 8 into which may be fitted a supporting bar indicated by the numeral 4, the member 1 being suspended from the bar and extending entirely to the bottom of the ditch. By forming the member 1 of the shape shown in the drawings the dam is better adapted to close the ditch and furthermore, there is a considerable saving in material.

The anchoring member is indicated in general by the numeral 5 and this member is in the nature of one or more plies of burlap or other coarsely woven material secured to the extreme lower end of the body member 1 and extending the entire width of the said lower end and a greater or less distance below the same.

In arranging the dam embodying the present invention the bar 4 is laid across the top of the irrigation ditch with the anchoring member 5 resting upon the bottom of the ditch and a pitch fork or other sharp pointed implement, indicated at 6, has its tines driven through the anchoring member and into the soil at the bottom of the ditch, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and a of the drawings. In this manner the lower end of the dam is securely held in place and it is unnecessary to weight down the said end with soil. Furthermore, when it is desired to remove the dam it is only necessary to withdraw the pitch fork and then lift the dam by floating the apron through the water until the water washes the apron under the bar 4, the one performing this operation being required to lift only the weight of the dam itself.

PatentedJan.'16, 1917'.

There are decided advantages resulting from the use of the particular anchoring means embodied in the invention inasmuch as the anchoring member being formed from burlap or other coarsely woven material, will permit of the ready passage therethrough of the tines of the pitch fork or other implement employed without likelihood of injury to the anchoring member nor will the member be likely to become torn as would canvas by being penetrated by the tines of the pitch fork.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a dam of the class described, a flexible body member provided with means for the support of its upper end, and an anchoring member at the lower end of the body member of coarsely woven material.

2. In a dam of the class described, a flexible body member, and a flexible anchoring member at the lower end of the body member, of coarsely woven material.

3. In a dam of the class described, a flexible body member of relatively closely woven material, and a terminal anchoring member connected therewith and of relatively coarsely Woven material, readily penetrable.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE W. HANNA. [1,. s]

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. 

